Santa Fe Standard

There's a lot going on in the City Different! 

Click through for more info on these and other newsy projects..

This could be the opportunity of a lifetime for a citizen of Santa Fe to help heal the city's historic wounds and plan a peaceful future based on mutual knowledge, understanding, and respect: Residents of the city and county are invited to apply to join the team that will conduct the CHART Project for Culture, Healing, Art, Reconciliation, and Truth. 

Under the direction of project leaders Artful Life, this team of facilitators will work from September, 2021, through May, 2022. Youth (high school-age students) and adults of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to apply. Trainings will include cultivating skills in community outreach and dialogue, interviewing, and/or arts engagement. Facilitators will earn $20-30 an hour for five to ten hours of work per week on flexible schedules. The deadline for applications is midnight, Wednesday, September 1. 

After the team is in place, residents will be invited to participate in the the CHART Project in a variety of ways — sign up for notifications at santafenm.gov/chart. "The more residents who participate, the more the outcomes will reflect the collective perspectives, desires, and dreams of the community," say project directors Valerie Martínez and Jenice Gharib, of Artful Life. "We invite every Santa Fean — young and old  — to join us by participating in one or more of the many events and activities that will unfold over the next ten months."

To access information and application forms visit the CHART Santa Fe website, chartsantafe.com. Questions? Email info@artful-life.com or call (505) 603-0866. Those without internet access can apply by telephone at that number and/or request an application form CHART – Artful Life, PO Box 28446, Santa Fe, NM 87592. Applications in Spanish are available on the website and by request; applications in other languages are available on request.

Early this week, on the anniversary of the Pueblo Revolt, vandals desecrated the Cross of the Martyrs and other monuments. We also found that someone tagged a portable toilet with graffiti supporting Don Diego de Vargas.

 

Such lawless displays of anger and divisiveness tear at the fabric of community and, worse, can lead to violence. This isn’t Santa Fe — it can’t be Santa Fe.

 

All of our histories and cultures are important. We’ve witnessed what happens when hatred and division take over. Don’t forget, Santa Fe was the site of an internment camp for Japanese-Americans. Housing subdivisions built here as recently as the 1950s had covenants that said African-Americans and Asian-Americans couldn’t live there — and in fact, had to be out of the neighborhood by sundown.

 

It’s time for us to lead with our shared values: to reject anger and divisiveness and to come together with unity and compassion. We have urgent problems to address and real crises to solve. We can’t be tearing ourselves apart when we should be pulling ourselves together.

I’ll speak up against anyone who seeks to divide us and tear us apart. And I’ll sit down with anyone who wants to work for healing and unity. 

Because of the spike in COVID-19/Delta variant cases, the City is taking further measures to keep employees and our community safe. According to Proclamation of Emergency XI-COVID-19, effective this week, masks are required inside City buildings except when eating, drinking, or swimming, or when in enclosed private spaces. City employees who are not fully vaccinated and/or not willing and able to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination shall provide proof of a COVID-19 test weekly. To learn more about the current status of the City's COVID response, read the Proclamation here.

The Marty Sanchez Links are newly equipped with Wi-Fi, and the course's Marketing and Special Events Coordinator Henry Lucero says it's a great leap forward: "This will allow staff to connect multiple devices and to streamline point-of-sale (POS) systems. Golf instructors will utilize this feature to enhance their lessons. Patrons may also use the Wi-Fi – free of charge – inside the pro shop, in the Links Bar & Grill, and outside the clubhouse.”

Members of the Police Department distributed school supplies and provided their well wishes to students and staff on their returns to Salazar Elementary School on Monday; check out the video. Other members of the force taped a PSA reminding everyone that school is back in session so we all need to slow down, especially in school zones, and do our part to improve roadway safety. Our students are depending on you to #DriveSafeSantaFe!

There's just one more week to make your voice heard in a survey about upgrades to that busy strip of Cerrillos between St. Mike's and St. Francis. NMDOT is handling the project before the state turns the road over to the city. The survey gauges public priorities about safety, public transportation, traffic, bicycle and pedestrian access, and beautification.